Purch Acquires AnandTech, Dominates Tech Expert and Enthusiast Market

Leading content and commerce company adds respected mobile, computing, and IT reviews site to its brand portfolio

NEW YORK, NY (December 17, 2014) – Purch today announced the acquisition of AnandTech.com, a leader in mobile, computing and IT analysis and reviews. Purch’s industry-leading combination of high-quality content and integrated commerce experiences makes complex buying decisions easy for more than 100 million consumers and professionals monthly. With the acquisition of AnandTech, Purch furthers its mission to simplify purchase decisions for in-market tech consumers by adding one of the most popular computer components, hardware, and mobile reviews sites to a brand portfolio that already includes category heavyweight, Tom’s Hardware.

AnandTech has been at the forefront of the technological evolution, providing groundbreaking reviews and trend coverage of cutting-edge mobile and computing products since Anand Shimpi, one of the tech industry’s most authoritative and respected figures, founded it in 1997 at age 14.

“AnandTech has grown by leaps and bounds over the past several years, but we were nearing what’s possible as an independent company,” said Ryan Smith, editor-in-chief, AnandTech. “The challenge has always been that there are very few players in the publishing space these days who value deep, high-quality content. We wanted a partner that understood our values, had a sound business model to ensure AnandTech’s legacy would continue for years to come, and would allow us to grow and expand our readership without compromising the quality that made us who were are today. Purch provides all of these things. I am beyond excited about what we’ll be able to do with their support.”

“The addition of AnandTech to a brand portfolio that includes Tom’s Hardware, Tom’s Guide, and Top Ten Reviews unquestionably establishes Purch as the dominant provider of in-depth, quality technology content, serving technology buyers who want to ensure the value of their potential investments,” said Greg Mason, CEO, Purch. “Technology manufacturers, too, can be assured that their messages will reach any serious buyer. The two editorial teams represent the finest, most expert group of content talent in the technology space. ”

“AnandTech represents much of my life’s work over the past 18 years,” said Anand Shimpi, founder, AnandTech. “I am happy to see it end up with a partner committed to taking good care of the brand and its readers. I wouldn’t have had it any other way.”

Purch offers brands and advertisers unmatched reach to tens of millions of discerning in-market tech consumers and professionals each month. These tech “enthusiasts” look to the kind of detailed research, benchmark testing, and advice from category experts during their buying process for which Tom’s Hardware and AnandTech are known. Readers trust that advice because it is backed by nearly two decades of testing every mobile and PC component imaginable, and is supported by unprecedented input and guidance from the biggest, passionate community of like-minded enthusiasts.

Purch’s acquisition of AnandTech is the company’s most recent move in a series of strategic acquisitions and partnerships aimed at furthering its mission to ease complex buying decisions for shoppers and deliver branding and performance results to advertisers. In 2013, the company acquired the renowned “Tom’s” brand of tech media sites and, earlier this year, purchased BuyerZone, the leading online marketplace for SMB buyers and sellers. Purch’s ability to trigger buying decisions in an array of product categories is evidenced by the more than 7,000 marketers and sellers that come to Purch to connect with ready-to-buy consumers. Each year, Purch’s content-commerce combination drives more than one billion dollars in commerce transactions.

In addition to the acquisition, Purch is now the number one technology publisher in the U.S., [1] with a global readership of more than 100 million monthly unique visitors.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

To find out more about Purch, visit www.purch.com or follow the company on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

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About Purch

Purch is a portfolio of digital brands and services that helps make complex buying decisions easy for 100 million consumers monthly. Its respected sites such as Top Ten Reviews, Tom’s Guide, Tom’s Hardware, and Live Science natively integrate commerce and content in more than 1000 product categories so consumers can make better choices before, during, and after an important purchase.

The company helps marketers achieve their branding and performance objectives in a high-quality, brand-safe context. Its sites connect in-market shoppers with more than 7,000 marketers and sellers, driving industry-leading conversion rates and $1 billion in commerce transactions annually.

Purch is a high-growth, privately held company with more than 350 employees and offices across the U.S. and Europe.

For more information on Purch, visit www.purch.com or follow the company on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

[1] Source: comScore U.S. Media Metrix, Tech-News category ranking by unique visitors, PC audience, September 2014

AnandTech Acquired By Purch
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  • klmccaughey - Friday, December 19, 2014 - link

    Anand came, he conquered, and he cashed in,

    I am very sad to see this, but at some stage Anand was going to do this. He now has lifelong financial security and the site will deteriorate henceforth.

    We now need a new soothsayer to make us a new site with the same quality.
  • nrencoret - Friday, December 19, 2014 - link

    No congratulations here. Every time independent media outlets are purchased, either their quality or integrity or both are compromised.

    Tom's site is a great example of this. Sad to see THE premier tech site in the world fall prey to this failed model (as far as content quality and independence goes). The idea behind every case is always noble but something goes horribly wrong along the way. Thanks AT for becoming the best tech site and for all the knowledge I've gained throughout the years. In a couple of years what you did will be sorely missed.
  • Den - Friday, December 19, 2014 - link

    The end of an era. I just hope this does not mean Anadtech will go to the dogs like Tom's Hardware did :(
  • theSeb - Friday, December 19, 2014 - link

    I don’t post in the comments section often, but I read 97% of the articles and have done so for many years. On the one hand, I have noticed decline in the number of in-depth articles, so I hope that this improves. On the other hand, I have seen Tom’s Hardware become a mess and I was wondering why…. now I understand why thanks to the press release.

    Tom’s Hardware is now impossible to read on a web browser without an adblocker. Trying to do it on a tablet becomes something between a joke and the most infuriating experience ever. It is a perfect example of “how not to do it”. With every swipe you’re likely to trigger an advert and they pop up all over the place, usually obscuring most of the screen. Is this what we have to look forward to at Anandtech?

    I see no reason why this site will be any different and it is a pity. I understand the reasons very well, because, let’s face it, money talks, but I see nothing good in the future for this site.
  • Writer's Block - Friday, December 19, 2014 - link

    I hope the reviews remain what has so far seemed unbiased.
  • TinHat - Friday, December 19, 2014 - link

    Ryan, Jarred, Kristian,

    Unlike some others i wish your new venture all the best. Thats it, ... no digs or reservations.

    I look forward to the coming changes.
  • Doomtomb - Friday, December 19, 2014 - link

    "new mobile world as we do about the old PC world"

    If you are using a PC, I guess you must be stuck in the past.
    Anandtech sellouts. Founder leaves, then they sellout.
  • random2 - Friday, December 19, 2014 - link

    "Purch acquired one of AnandTech’s biggest competitors in the late 1990s: Tom’s Hardware."

    Toms Hardware; A great site except for the fact it's home to every annoying method of advertizing on a website known to man. Closed my account with them years ago.
  • willstay - Saturday, December 20, 2014 - link

    Maybe after TomsHardware was bought by Purch, it started losing its charm. I didn't know it was sold but started not liking it from around the same time (I would say around 2001). Hope Anandtech doesn't end up at the same corner.
  • Tchamber - Saturday, December 20, 2014 - link

    Ryan didn't say Tom's Hardware was bought in the 90's, but that they were Anandtech's big competitor in the 90's. Purch didn't acquire Tom's until July 2013. So whatever complaints we have about Tom's....they are not due to Purch's ownership.

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